Fire Marshals Investigate ‘Suspicious’ Bronx Blaze

NEW YORK (CBS 2) — Several families were forced out of their homes by a fire in the Bronx that investigators said appeared to be suspicious, CBS 2’s Magee Hickey reports.

The fire gutted a row of stores in Williamsbridge overnight, leaving 18 people homeless, including four children.

The American Red Cross was providing temporary shelter.

The fire started at 3941 White Plains Road just before 11 p.m. Sunday. One man who say the flames as he was driving by started honking his horn to get people who lived above the stores quickly out.

“I was driving on 224th, making a right on White Plains Road, and I saw the flames coming up on the top left corner of the house. So I actually started honking my horn, and then other people joined in, actually honking their horns as well. So them doing that actually got a couple of people out of there. A lady and her daughter, I saw her came out after hearing the horns honking out there,” neighbor Johan Milton said.

Also injured in the evacuation of the residents were two firefighters and one police officer.

Subway service on the 2 line, suspended for several hours overnight, was restored Monday.